The Kraken Cometh…on 3Doodled Sunglasses

Kraken glasses (left) and another entry in the Doodle Off

We most likely won’t be 3Doodling our way to the creation of organs or the production of prosthetic limbs any time soon. However, given the overwhelming response that the 3Doodler pens have gotten during their Kickstarter campaigns, it’s clear that there is some serious communal brainpower going into pushing these pens’ creative possibilities to their limits. One of those working away is multi-media artist Heather Baharally who, despite having only received her pen at the beginning of June, went on to create a prize-winning pair of summer shades that same month.

Baharally, who goes by the handle artbyhaha, crafted a pair of sunglasses in the grip of a bug-eyed, multi-limbed, purple and blue Kraken as part of 3Doodler’s first-ever Doodle Off competition. The Kraken, a legendary sea monster possibly inspired by the giant squid, is said to inhabit the waters off the coasts of Greenland and Norway and has been described in writing since at least the 13th century and in oral tradition for far longer. This set of shades is quite possibly the first time it has been presented in 3Doodled form and it has been worth the wait.

The lens-hugging creature seems beguiling rather than frightening as he drapes around the frames and rests his chin(?) on the left hand side. He’s clearly looking to be loved, although if he were as gargantuan as depicted in legend, even this look could seem ominous. Part of its charm comes from the brightly colored PLA which is charming rather than dark. The suction cups, rendered in bright yellow, really sell the idea that the little guy is holding on while the nubby texture keeps it from being too slick and kitsch.

Baharally  expressed her framework for producing with the 3Doodler:

“My interest is in exploring the merging of 2D and 3D tools. I love the 3Doodler for increasing the range of what I can do on a canvas. It makes me think about shape and structure in a different way from drawing. It’s an amazing tool and fun to use. Art and technology are forever influencing each other. I feel like a pioneer, exploring a new tool and how that applies to contemporary art and design.”

Baharally wasn’t the only one who responded to 3Doodler’s Summer Shades challenge and the variety of creations indicates the depth of creative possibilities of the tool. From retro cat-eye glasses to, well, cat’s eyes glasses and back again, the 3Doodler community responded heartily to the call.

The future of 3Doodler creators is so bright…we just may have to wear some Kraken shades.

Are these the sort of design that you’d create for a challenge, or just for fun? Let us know what you think of these summer shades in the 3Doodler Doodle Off Kraken Sunglasses forum thread over at 3DPB.com.